News

SUV, suspect identified in shooting that led to death of Oakland rapper Kenny Clutch

By Katie Nelson Oakland Tribune

Posted:
02/23/2013 05:59:22 PM PST

Updated:
02/24/2013 07:03:38 AM PST

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Ammar Harris, 26, is being sought by police in connection with the shooting on the Las Vegas strip early Thursday that resulted in a fiery crash that killed three, including former Oakland resident and aspiring rapper Kenneth Cherry a.k.a. Kenny Clutch.

LAS VEGAS -- Police announced Saturday that they have identified an SUV and a suspect in the shooting death of an Oakland rapper on the Las Vegas Strip, which led to a fatal car crash involving a Maserati and taxi.

Las Vegas police said a black Range Rover SUV was found Saturday afternoon at an apartment complex east of the Strip and has since been impounded as evidence.

Police are looking for 26-year-old Ammar Harris, who they believed fired the shots in the incident early Thursday. Harris' arrest history in Las Vegas, which is extensive and violent, according to police, includes charges of kidnapping and pandering.

Harris is described as a black male adult, 5 feet 11 inches tall, 180 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. Harris also goes by the name of Ammar Asim Faruq Harris, as well as variations of that name, police said.

He is considered armed and dangerous. He has several distinctive tattoos, including a heart-shaped tattoo below his right eye and a large owl tattoo on his neck.

The driver of the Maserati, aspiring rapper and former Oakland resident Kenneth Cherry, Jr., a.k.a. Kenny Clutch, was killed by the gunfire.

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At approximately 4:20 a.m. Thursday, Las Vegas police officers responded to the intersection of Flamingo Road and Las Vegas Boulevard South to investigate reports of a multivehicle collision. Once officers arrived, they determined that the deadly collision, which also killed taxi driver Michael Boldon, of Las Vegas, and his passenger, Sandra Sutton-Wasmund of Maple Valley, Wash., and injured three others, was caused when Cherry's Maserati drove into the intersection after Cherry was involved in an argument during which shots were fired.

The argument, police said, was believed to have started in the valet parking area of the Aria Resort. The shooting happened the same night that Morocco-born rapper French Montana was playing at Aria's signature nightclub, Haze.

Harris, the driver of a black Range Rover, allegedly discharged several rounds from a firearm into the Maserati. Both vehicles continued northbound on Las Vegas Boulevard South before the Maserati entered the intersection, causing the collision, police said.

Anyone with any information about Harris' whereabouts or information about the incident is asked to contact the Las Vegas police homicide division at 702-828-3521 or Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555 or www.crimestoppersofnv.com. If Harris is sighted, citizens are urged to call 911.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. Contact Katie Nelson at 925-945-4780 or follow her at Twitter.com/katienelson210.